Pretty Polly- Addie Graham (KY) 1977 REC
[From the 1977 recording, Been A Long Time Traveling prduced by Addie’s grandson Rich Kirby and folklorist Barbara (Edwards) Kunkle.
Obviously the unknown date she learned this is much older than the 1977 recording. It has the "raving distracted" ending.
R. Matteson 2016]
Addie Graham, born before 1900 in the mountains of eastern Kentucky, was a masterful singer whose life and repertoire reflect both deep tradition and an era of social change in Appalachia. In Been a Long Time Traveling, Addie sings ballads which trace back to the British Isles, others composed in America, frolic songs and ditties, and religious songs in the Old Regular Baptist tradition. While the Baptist beliefs of her parents forbade the use of musical instruments during her childhood, Addie became an accomplished singer in the complex, highly ornamented style of Kentucky’s oral tradition.
Addie’s repertoire included several extremely rare lyrics, including We’re Stole and Sold From Africa an anti-slavery song which seems to have originated in the antebellum Abolitionist movement. She also sang a number of songs of African American origin, some learned from Black railroad builders.
Addie’s grandson Rich Kirby and folklorist Barbara (Edwards) Kunkle produced an LP of her singing, released in 1977. Since then her songs have been recorded by Mike Seeger, Alice Gerrard, Ginny Hawker, John McCutcheon, and others. Been A Long Time Traveling, presented here remastered with eight additional songs and extensive notes, brings Addie’s work to a new generation.
"Pretty Polly" sung by Addie Graham, born before 1900 in Kentucky, from the 1977 recording, Been A Long Time Traveling.
In London city I used to dwell
In London city I used to dwell
In London city I used to dwell
I left Pretty Polly I loved so well.
I talked to pretty Polly one whole long night
I left the next morning before daylight.
Sweet William, Sweet William you're leading me astray
I am a poor girl, my body to betray.
I led her o'er hills and valleys so deep
At length Pretty Polly began to weep.
Oh now we are here no time to stand,
And since [1] I've taken my knife in my hand
I stobbed her to the heart, the blood it did flow,
And into the grave Pretty Polly did go.
I threw some dust over her, turned to go home
Left nothing but the birds to mourn.
Went on a piece farther, saw I hadn't done right
Went raving distracted and died the same night.
1. instantly